Questions: 1. On what philosophical assumptions are the Hongwu emperor’s words and actions based?
In this paragraph, it talks about Hongwu, the emperor, and his beliefs in a society. The emperor believed that wrong doings in a empire would lead to corruption. Generally, he is talking about moral uprightness. The philosophical assumption is being honest and being right. However, more importantly, it is about how people can be taught and changed which is the idea of Confucianism.
2. Do you think that his actions will solve the problems he refers to? Why or why not?
Yes, I do believe that his actions will solve the problems because his harsh punishment would make the people fear for the consequences of their actions. They would think once more about what they are doing and if it is worth getting caught and being punished. The cruel punishment would probably put an end to the worries the emperor has. As we had discussed in class, being feared is the most powerful way to rule an empire.
3. Does the emperor’s approach to solving the problem of evil behavior in this excerpt differ from that in the first? If so, how?
Yes, the emperor's approach to solving the problem differs from the first solution. In the first paragraph, it talks about the ideas of Hongwu, his ideas of moral uprightness, and his thoughts of beating his subjects to solve the problem. In the second paragraph, it talks about how the evil behaviors should be avoided and how he has achieved that.
4. On what philosophical assumptions are Hongwu’s words here based? Think Chinese philosophy.
As I had said in my answer to the first question, the philosophical assumptions Hongwu's words are based on is Confucianism. It is because the paragraph talks of Hongwu trying to put a stop to the evil acts of people, and he proposes to do this by beating his subjects. Even though this seems cruel, it does talk about how people can be changed and perfected which is the main idea of Confucianism.
5. As an official, what would be your reaction to the emperor’s admonitions?
My reaction to the emperor's admonitions would be to be respectful and look out for more mistakes as such. I would take his admonitions very seriously, think about what I had done wrong and what I can do in the future to prevent such a thing from happening. I would do this to protect my reputation because I value it.
6. The emperor clearly holds himself up as a model of self-restraint for his officials to emulate. As an official, how would you take this?
I would take this in as a very synchronized and mindless, but still a very intelligent way to rule. Therefore, I would look up to the emperor as a model of self-restraint because he has power over all the subjects. It is also because everyone looking up to the same person will create a very stable empire.
7. Would your reaction be changed if you suddenly learned that the Hongwu emperor had dozens of concubines and consorts, with whom he fathered twenty-six sons and sixteen daughters?
Although I had known about the emperor and his concubines, I am surprised with the number of children. However, my reaction would not be changed because his actions are still understandable. As we had read in the text, he needs to continue his line of emperors. Also, I still do believe that every subject looking up to the same person will create a stable and steady empire, so my reactions would not be changed.
1. On what philosophical assumptions are the Hongwu emperor’s words and
actions based?
In this paragraph, it talks about Hongwu, the emperor, and his beliefs in a society. The emperor believed that wrong doings in a empire would lead to corruption. Generally, he is talking about moral uprightness. The philosophical assumption is being honest and being right. However, more importantly, it is about how people can be taught and changed which is the idea of Confucianism.
2. Do you think that his actions will solve the problems he refers to? Why or
why not?
Yes, I do believe that his actions will solve the problems because his harsh punishment would make the people fear for the consequences of their actions. They would think once more about what they are doing and if it is worth getting caught and being punished. The cruel punishment would probably put an end to the worries the emperor has. As we had discussed in class, being feared is the most powerful way to rule an empire.
3. Does the emperor’s approach to solving the problem of evil behavior in this
excerpt differ from that in the first? If so, how?
Yes, the emperor's approach to solving the problem differs from the first solution. In the first paragraph, it talks about the ideas of Hongwu, his ideas of moral uprightness, and his thoughts of beating his subjects to solve the problem. In the second paragraph, it talks about how the evil behaviors should be avoided and how he has achieved that.
4. On what philosophical assumptions are Hongwu’s words here based? Think Chinese philosophy.
As I had said in my answer to the first question, the philosophical assumptions Hongwu's words are based on is Confucianism. It is because the paragraph talks of Hongwu trying to put a stop to the evil acts of people, and he proposes to do this by beating his subjects. Even though this seems cruel, it does talk about how people can be changed and perfected which is the main idea of Confucianism.
5. As an official, what would be your reaction to the emperor’s admonitions?
My reaction to the emperor's admonitions would be to be respectful and look out for more mistakes as such. I would take his admonitions very seriously, think about what I had done wrong and what I can do in the future to prevent such a thing from happening. I would do this to protect my reputation because I value it.
6. The emperor clearly holds himself up as a model of self-restraint for his
officials to emulate. As an official, how would you take this?
I would take this in as a very synchronized and mindless, but still a very intelligent way to rule. Therefore, I would look up to the emperor as a model of self-restraint because he has power over all the subjects. It is also because everyone looking up to the same person will create a very stable empire.
7. Would your reaction be changed if you suddenly learned that the Hongwu
emperor had dozens of concubines and consorts, with whom he fathered
twenty-six sons and sixteen daughters?
Although I had known about the emperor and his concubines, I am surprised with the number of children. However, my reaction would not be changed because his actions are still understandable. As we had read in the text, he needs to continue his line of emperors. Also, I still do believe that every subject looking up to the same person will create a stable and steady empire, so my reactions would not be changed.